Right to Information Consultative Discussions in Central Asia

28 September 2022

UNESCO Almaty continues discussions based on the Media Development and Internet Universality Indicators findings in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, as well as on Tajikistan World Press Freedom Day recommendations 2022 from Dushanbe, and finalized Policy Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Governmental Public Domain Information to be presented on 28 September 2022 in Tashkent during the Celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2022.

Equal and Universal Access to Information is essential to promote human rights and dignity, eradicate poverty and build inclusive knowledge societies.

The purpose of the multistakeholder discussions is to build impetus in the proactive dissemination and use of public information, with particular attention to the information in digital form, as well as assist in monitor and reporting progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 16.10.2 on Public Access to Information.

Every year, UNESCO conducts a Survey on Public Access to Information to track progress on the adoption and implementation of “constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information”. The 2022 survey gathered responses from 122 countries. This theme will explore trends gathered from the 2022 survey and explore synergies with other initiatives to gather data related to SDG 16.

Series of Multistakeholder consultations, on the Right to Information already took place in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan during 2021-2022 debating international standards including Steering Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced ICTs, RTI and favourable regulation, proactive publication, oversees bodies, record-keeping mechanisms and limited scope of exceptions. Consultations will continue during the interactions with government institutions, NGOs, and United Nations working group meetings on legislation and Human Rights. The schedule is available below.

Recognizing the significance of access to information, the 74th UN General Assembly proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) at the UN level in October 2019.

This year Uzbekistan host Global Conference on Universal Access to Information 2022 with the theme “Artificial Intelligence, e-Governance and Access to Information". The global panel discussion will be focused on Access to Information and Artificial Intelligence, covering both benefits and risks, against the backdrop of good governance principles.

Schedule of the Celebration and Multistakeholder Consultations

International Day for Universal Access to Information,

28 September 2022, Global, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Organised by: Government of Uzbekistan and UNESCO

Celebration concept is available here.

Tashkent Declaration

Kazakhstan: Congress of Archivists

19-21 October 2022, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Theme: Open Archive for Open Society. The congress will advocate public access to information, inclusivity, international standards on written heritage preservation and proactive publication.

Organiser: Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Past RTI Consultations

Kazakhstan: discussion of the draft annual report on the state of access to information

24 May 2022, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

UNESCO Almaty and the Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized a discussion on global trends in access to information and a public discussion on the draft annual report to the President on the state of access to information in Kazakhstan.

Tajikistan and Central Asia: World Press Freedom Day 2022

5 May 2022, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tajikistan United Nations Country Team including UNESCO will co-organize the event jointly with OSCE and EU for the celebration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). Right to Information was one of the discussed topics.

Kyrgyzstan round table on the draft Law on the right of access to information

7 December 2021

Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic jointly with UN Kyrgyzstan organized discussion on for state bodies, civil society, and international organizations. UNESCO presented the international principles creating strong access to information laws.

The multi-stakeholder advisory board discussed access to information

13 April, 18 May, 18 July 2022, Nur-Sultan and Almaty, Kazakhstan

UNESCO Almaty and the Kazakh Media Development Foundation - Media Damitu kory (MDQ) organised a series of discussions on Media Development Indicators in Kazakhstan, and its impact to the Right to Information as well as regulation, pluralism, capacity and infrastructure.

Kazakhstan: Internet Universality Indicators Meeting discusses right to information and openness

13 June 2022, Almaty, Kazakhstan

UNESCO Almaty and the Internet Association of Kazakhstan organized discussions on the universality of the Internet based on the ROAM principles of Human Rights, Openness, Accessibility, Multi-stakeholder participation

Kyrgyzstan: Media Development Indicators Draft Report Discussion

16 Maу 2022, a Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board (MAB) discussed the first draft of the Media Development Indicators (MDI) in Kyrgyzstan.

Webinar on Access to Information for Turkestan state bodies In Kazakh language

28 September 2021 UNESCO Almaty organised a second webinar for key public authorities focused on the proactive publication of information in Turkestan Oblast (Municipality level) of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan National Committee of the Memory of the World Programme meets online

2 June 2022 UNESCO Almaty with the support of the Kazakhstan National Commission for UNESCO organized a meeting with members of the Kazakhstan National Committee of the Memory of the World Programme to discuss nominations and public access to written heritage.

Central Asian Presentation: Steering AI and advanced ICTs for knowledge societies

15 February 2021, Almaty, Kazakhstan

UNESCO Almaty launched Steering AI and advanced ICTs for knowledge societies Report. Multi-stakeholder representatives discussed the penetration of artificial intelligence in various sectors of Central Asian region to apply international standards in spheres of good governance, justice, education, culture, sciences, and communication and information.

International Standard on the Right to Information

MOOC: Access to Information laws and policies

UNESCO and Centre for Law and Democracy launch free online course on Access to Information laws and policies and their Implementation, looking at how to access information held by public authorities. This brand-new course on access to information is aimed at both requesters (demand-side) and information providers (supply-side) and covers a wide range of both conceptual and practical issues relating to Access to Information (ATI).